Most diets exclude sugar from the diet. But it is so unusual to drink unsweetened tea or coffee, and I really want to sweeten my life. Sweeteners come to the rescue. But is this the right choice and how can they be dangerous? Goodshapetips conducted an investigation.
In retail, there are a great many different drugs, products and dietary supplements that can replace sugar to taste. They are natural and artificial, and were originally intended for people with diabetes to somehow brighten up their lives. Doctors recommend them to alternate natural carbohydrate sugar substitutes with artificial sweeteners. But for those who are on a diet, natural sweeteners are not suitable at all, since they have the same calorie content as sugar.
Very often, those who are losing weight are happy to sip cola-light and chew sugar-free chewing gum, thinking that this will definitely not damage their figure. But in reality, things are different.
Natural sweeteners
Natural sweeteners include fructose, sorbitol, and xylitol. Their energy value is 1.5-2 times less than sugar.
Fructose made from fruits and berries, it is found in honey and looks like sugar and is almost twice as sweet. It is completely harmless, but this type of sweetener is not very suitable for a diet – high calorie content does not contribute to weight loss. There are no other cons.
Xylitol and sorbitol are also natural. The first is made from mountain ash, the second is made from corn cobs and cotton seeds. The main disadvantages can be considered that at high doses they can cause diarrhea, indigestion and contribute to the development of cholecystitis. For those who want to lose weight, this substitute is also not suitable. The reason is the same – high calorie content.
artificial sweeteners
Those who want to lose weight try to reduce the calorie content of food in all possible ways, sometimes putting their health at risk. So, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame and sucralose are allowed and are the most popular in Russia. True, most of them cannot be absorbed by the body. In addition, there are other “harmful”.
Saccharin sweeter than sugar by an average of 300 times and was one of the first sweeteners on the market. At the moment, it is banned in the US, Canada and the European Union, as it promotes the development of cancer and affects the exacerbation of gallstone disease. In addition, it is categorically contraindicated during pregnancy, which also speaks of it not in the best way.
Cyclamate was invented over 70 years ago, it is about 40 times sweeter than sugar. It is strictly contraindicated in pregnant women and children, and there is also a suspicion that it provokes renal failure. In a number of countries, including the USA, France, Great Britain, it has been banned since 1969.
Aspartame almost 150 times sweeter than sugar. It is rarely used alone, usually mixed with cyclamate and saccharin. However, it is present in more than 6,000 products. Many experts have recognized it as dangerous because this substance can provoke epilepsy, chronic fatigue, diabetes, mental retardation, brain tumors and other brain diseases. It is also contraindicated in pregnant women and children. Overdose causes memory loss, reproductive tract disease, seizures, weight gain and other symptoms.
Acesulfame 200 times sweeter than sugar. It can often be “meet” in ice cream, sweets, soda. It is poorly soluble and contains methyl alcohol, which negatively affects the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and can also be addictive. Banned in the USA.
Can sweeteners help you lose weight?
Experts from North Carolina (USA) have proven that sweeteners can have the opposite effect, and a person who wants to lose weight and uses them risks gaining excess weight. This is due to the fact that people who consume sweeteners try to get as many calories as possible from the rest of the food. Thus, the metabolism in the body slows down, and this negatively affects the figure.
What can replace sweeteners?
What if it is simply necessary to replace sugar? At the moment, sweeteners of a new type have been developed:
- Stevioside obtained from stevia, or honey grass, and it can taste hundreds or thousands of times sweeter.
- From the peel of citrus fruits, another substance is obtained that can replace sugar – citrosis. It is 1800-2000 times sweeter and safe for the body.
- There is also a sweetener based on natural proteins – monelin. But at the moment it cannot be available to a wide audience, as its production is very expensive.
If you’re thinking about “going on a diet,” talk to a nutritionist and therapist about sweeteners to discuss options that are right for you. Among other things, carefully read the labels on diet products. If you see that they contain harmful sweeteners, it is better to refrain from purchasing them.
You should not risk your health for the sake of losing extra pounds, because beauty in the first place is in a healthy body!
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